Suspicious package addressed to CNN intercepted in Atlanta on Monday

Federal authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc in Florida on Friday, October 26, 2018 in connection to the mailed explosive devices (pipe bombs) sent to political leaders and outspoken Trump critics in October 2018. (Handout)

A bomb squad descended on an Atlanta post office early Monday after employees there discovered a suspicious package addressed to CNN — one that looked eerily similar to packages containing explosives mailed to prominent Democrats last week.

Federal authorities have declined to specify who the package was addressed to, but CNN President Jeff Zucker said that it was intended for the cable television network’s Atlanta headquarters.

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The discovery came just hours ahead of a Monday federal court hearing for Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old from Miami with a passion for President Trump, bodybuilding and steroids.

Sayoc was arrested Friday and faces up to five federal charges for interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communications and assaulting federal officers.

He is accused of sending bubble-wrapped manila envelopes to Democrats such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. The packages were intercepted from Delaware to California. At least some listed a return address of U.S. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Authorities didn’t immediately confirm if the Atlanta package contained explosives, but a bomb squad rushed to the central city post office on Pryor St. just after 10 a.m., it was found.

Photograph of the suspicious package sent to CNN in Atlanta. It is the third suspicious package sent to CNN. It is similar in appearance to ones authorities say were sent by Cesar Sayoc. pic.twitter.com/b87G3mBfGU

Law enforcement officials said last week after nabbing Sayoc — who lived out of a white van festooned with anti-Democrat pictures and pro-Trump slogans — that it was possible more packages had been mailed and were still en route.

But they have yet to officially tie the Atlanta one to Sayoc.

CNN tweeted a picture of the package and said it looks “similar in appearance to the wave of pipe bombs that were mailed last week.”

Sayoc will appear in Florida court Monday but is expected to be prosecuted in New York. He faces up to 48 years in prison if convicted of all charges.